Expandable and contractible tubing support structure

ABSTRACT

A tubing structure including a plurality of non-round, hollow, open-ended tubing sections with a plurality of end connectors. The structures may be selectively expanded or contracted according to the user&#39;&#39;s requirements. The end connectors maintain a frictional connection of considerable strength between the adjacent tubing sections. The tubing structure, when assembled, is a strong, rigid, and stable support for a variety of uses.

United States Patent 1 1 Werner [in 3,711,133 1 51 Jan. 16,1973

[54] EXPANDABLE AND CONTRACTIBLE TUBING SUPPORT STRUCTURE [76] Inventor:

. Road, Poughkeepsie, NY. 12603 [22] Filed: JuneZ, 1971 211 Appl.No.: 149,181

[52] US. Cl. ..287/54 A, 248/1881 [51] Int. Cl ..Fl6b 7/00 [58] Field of Search .1248/1881; 21 1/182; 287/54 A,

287/54 B, 54 C, 126, 20.92 E; 85/83, 5

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,926,941 3/1960 Thompson ..2s7 54 B 3,074,203 1/1963 Paksy ..287/l26 3,093,027 6/1963 Rapata.... ..85/5 R 3,169,439 I 2/1965 Rapata ....85/5 R Otto V. Werner, 11 Pine Ridge,

3,392,947 7/1968 Keliehor ..211/182' 3,412,437 11/1968 Bennett; ..ss/s R FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 226,905 2/1960 Australia ..248/188 Primary EJraminer Mari0n Parsons, Jr. Att0rneyAlfred E. Miller [57] ABSTRACT A tubing structure including a plurality of non-round,

hollow, open-ended tubing sections with a plurality of end connectors. The structures may be selectively expanded or contracted according to the users requirements. The end connectors maintain a frictional connection of considerable strength between the adjacent tubing sections; The tubing structure, when assembled, is a strong, rigid, and stable support for a'variety of uses.

I 7 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDJANIG I973 3.711; 133

SHEET 1 OF 2 INVENTOR.

OTTO V. WERNER BY @EW TTORNEY PATENTEDJAH 1s ma I 3.711; 133

SHEET 2 OF 2 OTTO V. WERNER BY Cgggzmwl ATTORNEY EXPANDABLE AND CONTRACTIBLE TUBING SUPPORT STRUCTURE This invention relates to a tubing support system which is frictionally held together and which can be expanded or contracted to form a desired configuration.

An object of the present invention is to provide a pluinvention will be better understood by reference to the following detailed specification when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an assembled tubing support structure constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of two tubing sections and a connector element interconnecting the sections.

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of an end of one section of hollow tubing.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a leg end plug.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a hollow tubing connector with variations thereof shown in dotted lines; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of another type of connector.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Referring to the drawings, the present selectively ex-' pandable and contractible tubing support structure comprises a plurality of hollow tubing sections 10, which are rectangular in cross-section and may be constituted of a high density, rigid plastic such as 89l29 ABS, manufactured by the B. F. Goodrich Company, or Butyrate, manufactured by Eastman Chemical Corporation. The ABS material is a polymer resin made by combining a styrene-acrylonitrile resin component with a butadrene-acrylonitrile resin. The tubing may be optically transparent or color'ed from avariety of selected colors for aesthetic reasons-The tubing sections 10 are preferably removably interconnected, however, this can be accomplished only by the use of considerable force. Nevertheless, if it is desired to have the tubing sections-permanently combined, the assembled tubing sections may be chemically fused, bonded or welded resulting in a rigid, permanently combined integral structure. I

Each of the adjacent tubing sections 10 are interconnected by means of selected connectors 12, as seen in FIGS. 1,2,5, and 6. The connectors 12 comprise a base portion 14 provided with inserts 16 that project laterally from the base portion. As seen in FIG. 5, an additional projection 18 and additional projection 20 (shown in dotted lines) function to erect the tubing structure'in stages, vertically as well as horizontally. As

also seen in FIG. 5 in full lines, the connector 12 is a three-way coupling which is adapted for use on the comer of the structure, while the connector having the additional insert 22 (shown in dotted lines) is a fourway coupling that is adapted for use interiorly, where four hollow tubing sections are interconnected. 7

Each of the inserts 16, 22 is U-shaped and is provided with stiffening ribs 24 extending along the inner walls of the legs 16a, 16b, 22a, and 22b of the inserts. It will be noted that the ribs 24 are positioned a distance from the free ends of the inserts thereby permitting a limited flexibility to the free ends thereof. It should also be observed that the outer periphery of inserts 16 and 22 shown by the dimensions X is almost identical with the inner periphery of the hollow tubing sections shown by the dimensions Y so that the connectors 12 are inserted by force fit into the adjacent hollow tubing sections 10, forming a rigid support structure of high strength. In this manner, a positive coupling of the tubing sections is effected which can be uncoupled only by the use of extreme force, for example by mallet blows. As seen in FIG. 4, end caps 26 are provided for the open ends of the hollow tubing section legs.

The diameter of the hollow tubing sections 10 may vary according to required use. Moreover, the tubing may be optically clear, or of a desired color for aesthetic reasons. It should be apparent that a large variety of configurations can beconstructed with the hollow tubing sections and selected connectors. Thus, the structure can be used as a support for a work bench, supports for displays, supports for furniture, as well as a variety of other uses.

Iclaim:

1. A selectively expandable and contractible tubing support structure comprising a plurality of hollow. tubing sections that are rectangular in cross-section, a plurality of connecting members for said hollow tubing, each having a base block and a plurality of U-shaped inserts, each of said inserts projecting from said base block substantially perpendicular to each other", and having an outside diameter substantially corresponding to the inside diameter of said hollow tubing sections and rear wall section adjacent to said base block, a stiffening rib for each leg of each of said inserts which is located a predetermined distance from the respective open end of each insert, and the portions of said inserts forward of said stiffening ribs and remote from said rear wall section being slightly flexible while the portions of said inserts rearward of said stiffening ribs being rigid,.thereby permitting frictionalcoupling of said inserts to adjacent tubing sections.

2. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said U-shaped insert is provided with a relatively thick rear wall whereby when said insert is rigidly coupled to a tubing section, said fitting is liquid tight.

3. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hollow tubing sections have relatively thick wall sections.

' 4. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein some of said tubing sections are legs and further comprising leg end caps which are frictionally held therein.

5. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hollow tubing sections are constituted of a high density rigid plastic.

6. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein said connector elements are constituted of a high density rigid plastic.

7. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said hollow tubing sections and corresponding connec- 5 tor elements are permanently combined. 

1. A selectively expandable and contractible tubing support structure comprising a plurality of hollow tubing sections that are rectangular in cross-section, a plurality of connecting members for said hollow tubing, each having a base block and a plurality of U-shaped inserts, each of said inserts projecting from said base block substantially perpendicular to each other, and having an outside diameter substantially corresponding to the inside diameter of said hollow tubing sections and rear wall section adjacent to said base block, a stiffening rib for each leg of each of said inserts which is located a predetermined distance from the respective open end of each insert, and the portions of said inserts forward of said stiffening ribs and remote from said rear wall section being slightly flexible while the portions of said inserts rearward of said stiffening ribs being rigid, thereby permitting frictional coupling of said inserts to adjacent tubing sections.
 2. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said U-shaped insert is provided with a relatively thick rear wall whereby when said insert is rigidly coupled to a tubing section, said fitting is liquid tight.
 3. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hollow tubing sections have relatively thick wall sections.
 4. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein some of said tubing sections are legs and further comprising leg end caps which are frictionally held therein.
 5. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein said hollow tubing sections are constituted of a high density rigid plastic.
 6. The combination as claimed in claim 1, wherein said connector elements are constituted of a high density rigid plastic.
 7. The combination as claimed in claim 1 wherein said hollow tubing sections and corresponding connector elements are permanently combined. 